Avian tuberculosis in pigeons
Other names: Tuberculosis، Wasting
Symptoms
- Gradual wasting despite eating, diarrhea, limping, swellings
How it spreads
Droppings, contaminated soil, wild birds.
Diagnosis
Necropsy + Ziehl-Neelsen stain + PCR.
Treatment
Treatment is not advisable - cull the bird. [Update 3] Harlin & Wade 2009: pigeons and doves are susceptible to avian tuberculosis (M. avium, M. bovis). Merck (ornamental birds): treatment is 3 drugs for 6-12 months or more - impractical for a flock, so culling remains the practical recommendation.
Prevention
Cleanliness and disinfection, keep wild birds out.
Treatment and doses are decided by an avian vet after an exam; Zajel does not publish doses.
Other diseases
- Salmonella (paratyphoid)
- Ornithosis (chlamydia)
- Mycoplasma
- Respiratory complex (ornithosis complex)
- Single-eye cold (one-eyed cold)
- E. coli
- Streptococcus (Streptococcus gallolyticus)
- Pasteurella (cat bite)
Sources
- Vogel, Gehrke, Lehmann - 'Taubenkrankheiten' / Vogel & Gylstorff - standard German pigeon disease texts - not fetched
- pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- merckvetmanual.com